Franklin Football Ranked 25th in D3football.com Preseason Poll

Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College football team enters the 2014 season ranked No. 25 in the D3football.com national preseason poll announced by the organization on Wednesday.

The Grizzlies return 12 starters, highlighted by nine offensive starters, from last year's team that won eight games and advanced to second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The D3football.com preseason poll marks the second organization to place Franklin in its preseason poll. The team was selected No. 12 by Lindy's Sports. Junior offensive lineman Austin Carlton (Evansville, Ind./F.J. Reitz) was named by a preseason All-American in that publication.

Last season, Franklin became the first team to win fourth consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference football titles. The team defeated Washington University-St. Louis in the first round of the Division III playoffs.

The Grizzlies open the 2014 season at Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, September 6 at 2 p.m. The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, September 13 at 1:30 p.m. against defending national champion and preseason No. 1-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.